The Minister of Labor, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic Erik Tomáš (Voice-SD) is pleased that people who go to work on May 8 and September 15 will receive a 100 percent supplement. He informed about it on Thursday during the regular Question Hour in the National Council (NR) of the Slovak Republic.
- People working on May 8 and September 15 will receive a 100 percent bonus.
- Opposition member of parliament Simona Petrík criticizes the retention of extra payments for canceled days of peace.
- Erik Tomáš claims that he did not cause the change and that it falls under the Act on Holidays.
- The Lex consolidation package abolished the days of rest, but kept the wage supplements.
- Cancellation of non-working days only applies this year for both dates.
This is how he answered the question of opposition MP Simona Petrík (PS): “Mr. Minister, can you tell us your position on canceling the holidays on May 8 and September 15, which you obviously forgot to cancel as holidays in the Labor Codeand therefore on these days, employers will have to pay their employees all additional payments as if they were holidays? It was really planned, as the Prime Minister put it, what do you intend to do about this situation?’
The minister said he had nothing to do with it and did not cause it. “If someone should make a change, then through the amendment on public holidays,” said Tomas. At the same time, he pointed out to the deputy that on the mentioned two days, holidays were not cancelled, but days off from work.
“The Ministry of Finance presented the Lex consolidation package, in which, although it abolished the days of rest, it kept the extra payments on this day,” stated the minister, saying that if someone wanted to solve it, there are two options. “Either the Ministry of Finance as the author of the law by opening an amendment to the law on public holidays, or the Ministry of Culture with an amendment to the law on public holidays, because it is responsible for this holiday. In the Labor Code, there is only a reference to a special regulation regarding additional payments. If someone should make a change, then through the amendment on public holidays,” noted Tomáš.
Petrík said that the schools are largely giving the day off on May 8 and will probably do so on September 15 as well. “Parents are rioting because they have to go to work on this day, and they have nowhere to put their children. Employers will rather leave their employees at home than pay them extras for the holiday. The National Council will also work on May 8 with extras.” the deputy pointed out. Additionally, she asked the minister how this will help the state budget and whether this situation is to be resolved in the Labor Code or in the Act on Public Holidays.
The Minister repeated that if the Minister of Finance, as the author of Lex Consolidation, decided that it did not need to be set, if the Prime Minister said that it did not need to be set, and when people are supposed to go to work during the holidays, because days of rest have been abolished, so as the Minister of Labor he will only be pleased that they will receive a 100 percent bonus.
“The cancellation of days of rest is only temporary, for this year, it only applies to May 8 and September 15 this year. After that, the standard regime will start. People will go to work, but those who go to work will have a 100 percent supplement,” Tomas concluded.
